Lifestyle Newborn Session Prep

Your lifestyle newborn session will take place in the comfort of your own home. Please let me know your address when you can.

Your session will take approximately 2 hours.

I will only be bringing some swaddle wraps & maybe a basket or two to place baby in for our session. The majority of our session will take place in the nursery, your bedroom & living area if you choose. I want this to feel very relaxed, comfy, snuggly & not too posed. Please send me a few photos of baby's nursery, your living & master bedroom(or any areas you'd like to use).

If you have any neutral or simple well fitted outfits/onesies for baby, have those laid out for me to go through. Same goes for any blanket swaddles you may have that you'd like to use or special family quilts or heirlooms.

Please do not worry about the state of your house! You just had a baby, I do not care if dishes are piled up in the sink and clothes baskets runneth over! Just make sure to clear out the spots you plan on using. (bedroom, nursery, couch, etc) Throw "stuff" to the other side of the room if you need, no judgement from me! :)

Please bump up the air to around 76 degrees. We want baby warm & comfortable.

Be sure all of your curtains and shades are fully open to let in lots of natural light.

Interact with & try to keep baby awake for at least an hour before your session to ensure he/she is good and sleepy for when I arrive. This is very important. Stimulating baby with a bath or some "naked time" prior to the session are some tricks you can use.

For the baby, clean away flaky skin if possible and/or apply some lotion to help with those extra dry spots (hands, ankles, belly usually).

Strip baby down to a diaper shortly before I arrive & wrap in a swaddle blanket. This will help as to not disturb them too much by removing clothes.

Please make sure baby has a full belly for our session. Feed baby a full feeding (to a milk-drunk state) as I'm set to arrive. A full baby=a calm & sleepy baby. Your baby will more than likely want to eat more often during the session than they normally do. If bottle feeding, be sure to have extra bottles ready. Make sure baby is burped really well after they are fed.

If nursing or bottle feeding breastmilk, try to eliminate caffeine and gassy foods from your diet for 48 hours prior to your session.

Please have a pacifier ready. Even if you haven't used one yet or baby doesn't seem to take it, just for the 2 hours that I'm posing baby it can really help. The round soothie pacifiers typically work best & don't leave marks. However, if you really prefer that we don't use one, that is fine as well.

If you are planning on parent (and/or sibling) photos, simple is better for clothing! I will wrap baby up in a coordinating color wrap to look best with the family & surroundings. A simple white, black, solid or neutral color top will be perfect. Same goes for dad & siblings. Mom, a maxi or cotton dress may also work nicely! Don't feel the need to all wear the same color. Stay away from prominent logos or writing on clothing. Also, I wouldn't worry much about shoes as you will more than likely be barefoot. Be sure that your nails are manicured (nothing fancy, just ideally no chipped polish) as your hands will be involved.

Lastly and most importantly, RELAX! Soak in that new baby smell & cuddle with your loved ones & be "in the moment". We will get so many beautiful photos of your squishy new baby no matter what & this ever long list of "tips" will be worth it! :)